Pyrotechnic compositions



Patented Nov. 14, 1944 rrao'racnmc coMrosrrIoNs George J. Schladt, Dover, N. J., assignor to the Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of War and his successors in oi'llce No Drawing. Application August 11, 1938, Serial No. 224,303

(Granted under the act oi. March 3; 1883, as

7 Claims.

amended April 30, 1928; 370 O. G. 757) I The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for'the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

The subject of this invention is a pyrotechnic composition.

The conventional method of producing or intensifying the color of signal flares or tracer compositions is to use the ohlorates or perchlorates such as potassium chlorate, barium chlorate, ammonium perchlorate, etc., or to use inorganic halides such as barium chloride, strontiumchloride, mercurous chloride, strontium fluoride, etc., in conjunction with barium or chlorbenzene, in mechanical mixture with basic color producing agents such as barium and strontium, by reason of the fact that they require relatively low temperatures to eflect their dissociation, are very effective c010 intensifying agents. This composition gives a light of highcandlepower value and has satisfactory burning rate, sensitivity, stability, hygroscopicity and ignitability characteristics.

Spectroscopic evidence indicates that the chlorine in the organic compounds combines with barium or strontium in the flame reaction resulting in radiation in more restricted portions of the visible spectrum, that is, with barium compounds the green portion of the spectrum is intensified, and with strontium compounds the red portion becomes more intense.

The following compositions are given as typical examples in which color intensification is obtained by the addition of an organic compound containing chlorine:

. Per cent Barium nitrate 42 Magnesium 28 Hexachlorethane C2 C10 30 linseed oil 2 Strontium nitr .40 Magnesium 33 Hexachlorethane 25 Linseed oil 2 In these compositions the barium and strontium nitrate can be classed as oxygen carriers containing the color producing elements barium and strontium; the magnesium as a metallic fuel furnishing heat and light in the process of oxidation; the hexachlorethane as the color intensifier because of'the combination in the flame or its chlorine with the barium or strontium or the nitrates; and the linseed oil as the binding and waterproofing agent. Linseed oil or any drying or semi-drying oil will also retard or deter any tendency to volatilization of the hexachlorethane during storage. These'compositions without the hexachlorethane produce a close approximation to white light and the addition of the hexachlorethane results in the production of true signal colors.

Variations in the proportions given in the foregoing examples produce a wide range of candlepowers and burning times. Variations in the ingredients produce different color characteristics as illustrated in the following composition which gives a blue-green light:

Per cent Barium nitrate 42 Magnesium 17 Hexachlorethane 40 pp r 1 The presence of copper in excess of 1 part results in a predominantly blue color.

A large number of compositions have been made in which hexachlorethane and hexachlorbenzene were included in amounts varying between 5 and 40% and in which the magnesium was replaced by aluminum.

claim:

1. A pyrotechnic composition comprising a nitrate of an alkaline-earth metal, an organic halogen compound havlng a dissociatm temperature substantially lower than the inorganic halides, and a metallic fuel.

2.A pyrotechnic composition comprising a nitrate 01' an alkaline-earth metal, hexachlorethane, and a metallic fuel.

3. A pyrotechnic composition comprising a nitrate of an alkaline-earth metal, hexachlorbenzene, and a metallic fuel.

4. A pyrotechnic composition comprising a' nitrate or an alkaline-earth metal, an organic per for varying the color.

a. a pyrotechnic composition comprising a nitrate of an alkaline-earth metal. a chlorinated organic compound having a dissociation temperature substantially lower than the inorganic halides, and a metallic fuel.

'7. A pyrotechnic composition comprising a nitrat of an alkaline-earth metal, a chlorinated hydrocarbon having a dissociation temperature substantially lower than the inorganic halides,

and a metallic fuel. I

GEORGE J. SOHLADT.

cERTIFIqAT-E OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,562,502;

November 114 191414..

GEORGE J. SCHLADT.

It is hereby certified that'error appears in the printed specification. of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows Page 1, first I column, line 52, for-the numeral "1+2" read "1 0;

and that the said Let- 'ters Patent should be'read with this correction therein that the same may v conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 50th day of January, A. D. 1915.

Leslie Frazer Acting Commissioner of. latents. 

